1 Samuel 23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23

Saul, having made himself drunk with the blood of the priests of the Lord, is here, in this chapter, seeking David's life, who appears here doing good, and suffering ill, at the same time. Here is, I. The good service he did to his king and country, in rescuing the city of Keilah out of the hands of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 23:1-6. II. The danger he was thereby brought into from the malice of the prince he served and the treachery of the city he saved, and his deliverance, by divine direction,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-6

Now we find why the prophet Gad (by divine direction, no doubt) ordered David to go into the land of Judah, 1 Sam. 22:5. It was that, since Saul neglected the public safety, he might take care of it, notwithstanding the ill treatment that was given him; for he must render good for evil, and therein be a type of him who not only ventured his life, but laid down his life, for those that were his enemies. I. Tidings are brought to David, as to the patron and protector of his country's liberties,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:7-13

Here is, I. Saul contriving within himself the destruction of David (1 Sam. 23:7, 8): He heard that he had come to Keilah; and did he not hear what brought him thither? Was it not told him that he had bravely relieved Keilah and delivered it out of the hands of the Philistines? This, one would think, should have put Saul upon considering what honour and dignity should be done to David for this. But, instead of that, he catches at it as an opportunity of doing David a mischief. An ungrateful... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:14-18

Here is, I. David absconding. He abode in a wilderness, in a mountain (1 Sam. 23:14), in a wood, 1 Sam. 23:15. We must here, 1. Commend his eminent virtues, his humility, modesty, fidelity to his prince, and patient attendance on the providence of his God, that he did not draw up his forces against Saul, fight him in the field, or surprise him by some stratagem or other, and so avenge his own quarrel and that of the Lord's priests upon him, and put an end to his own troubles and the calamities... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:19-29

Here, 1. The Ziphites offer their service to Saul, to betray David to him, 1 Sam. 23:19, 20. He was sheltering himself in the wilderness of Ziph (1 Sam. 23:14, 15), putting the more confidence in the people of that country because they were of his own tribe. They had reason to think themselves happy that they had an opportunity of serving one who was the ornament of their tribe and was likely to be much more so, who was so far from plundering the country, or giving it any disturbance with his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 23 This chapter gives an account of David's relieving Keilah, when it had like to have fallen into the hands of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 23:1 ; and of Saul's design to surprise him there, which David having notice of, and inquiring of the Lord, departed from thence; which when Saul heard of, he forbore to come forth, 1 Samuel 23:7 ; and of David's being in the wilderness of Ziph, where, in a wood there, he had an interview with Jonathan, 1 Samuel 23:14 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1

Then they told David ,.... Either the men of Keilah sent to him, being near them, or some well wishers of theirs, and of their country, acquainted him with their case: saying, behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah ; had laid siege to it, being a fortified place, 1 Samuel 23:7 ; it was a city in the tribe of Judah, on the borders of the Philistines; of which See Gill on Joshua 15:44 , and they rob the threshing floors ; took away the corn upon them, which they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:2

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go and smite these Philistines ?.... For though David was well disposed to serve his country, and was desirous of freeing them from their enemies the Philistines, he might have some doubts in his mind whether it would be right for him to engage with them now; partly because he could not act under a commission from his prince, Saul the king; and partly because he had such a small number of forces with him, that it might be hazardous for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:3

And David's men said unto him, behold, we be afraid here in Judah ,.... Of Saul and his army falling upon them, and crushing them, though they were in the tribe of Judah, where they had many friends, and in the heart of that tribe: how much more then if we come to Keilah ; which, though in the same tribe, yet in the further parts of it, and on the borders of the Philistines: and there engage against the armies of the Philistines ? too numerous and powerful for them, and so by this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:4

Then David inquired of the Lord yet again ,.... Not for his own sake, who firmly believed it was the will of God he should go and succeed, but for the sake of his men, and to remove the doubts and fears that hung on their minds: and the Lord answered him, and said, arise, go down to Keilah ; immediately, make no stay, nor hesitate about it, but go with all haste to the relief of the place: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hands ; which is still more explicit, and is a... read more

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